Hosea 11
1“When Israel was a young man I loved him, 1 and I called my son out of Egypt. 1
2The more they were called, 1 the more they went away from me. 1 They sacrificed to the Baals 1 and burned incense to idols. + 11:2 Some ancient and most modern versions have they went away from me . The Hebrew text has they went away from them . 1
3Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk. 1 It was I who lifted them up by their arms, 1 but they did not know that I cared for them. 1
4I led them with cords of humanity, 1 with bands of love. 1 I was to them like someone who eased the yoke on their jaws, 1 and I bent down to them and fed them. 1
5Will they not return to the land of Egypt? 1 Will Assyria not rule over them 1 because they refuse to return to me? 1
6The sword will fall on their cities 1 and destroy the bars of their gates; 1 it will destroy them 1 because of their own plans. 1
7My people are determined to turn away from me. 1 Though they call to the Most High, 1 no one will help them. 1
8How can I give you up, Ephraim? 1 How can I hand you over, Israel? 1 How can I make you like Admah? 1 How can I make you like Zeboyim? 1 My heart has changed within me; 1 all my compassions have been stirred up. 1
9I will not execute my fierce anger; 1 I will not again destroy Ephraim. 1 For I am God 1 and not a man; 1 I am the Holy One among you, 1 and I will not come in wrath. 1
10They will follow Yahweh; 1 and he will roar like a lion. 1 When he roars, 1 his children will come trembling from the west. 1
11They will come trembling like a bird from Egypt, 1 like a dove from the land of Assyria. 1 I will make them live in their homes—this is the declaration of Yahweh. 1
12Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood, 1 and the house of Israel with deceit. 1 But Judah is still going about with me, God, 1 and is faithful to me, the Holy One.”